Salida Union School District gets new superintendent. Who is he and when did he start?
The Salida Union School District has a new superintendent, Dante Alvarez.
With over 24 years of experience, Alvarez most recently served as the senior director at Manteca Unified School District, where he oversaw multiple departments for seven years.
He assumed the Salida position July 1 and has a salary of $217,152, with additional benefits. The school district has six schools, with around 3,000 students enrolled.
Alvarez said due to his experience in both as an instructor and on the operational side in school districts, he has worked with many teachers, administrators and families. He said it has helped shape his perspective and prepared him to become superintendent of Salida.
This year, he plans to focus on improving math scores and arts instruction and ensuring that when students advance to other districts, they are good people.
“When they go to Gregori High School, we want the staff to know that these are Salida students. We want to prepare them for the rigors of high school and also to be empathetic and be good citizens.”
Prior to his position as senior director in Manteca, Alvarez was a fifth-grade teacher in Modesto City Schools and a vice principal in Manteca Unified. He also served in principal positions in Empire Union School District and Ripon Unified School District.
Alvarez has a doctorate from the University of the Pacific, a master’s degree from Stanislaus State and a bachelor’s from San Francisco State.
“There’s a lot of good stuff that’s happening at Salida,” he said. “A lot of great people are here in Salida. I feel very blessed to be here and very excited.”
This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
